Singaporean film-maker Royston Tan's 881 has been selected by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) as the country's official entry for the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film category.

The deadline for submission to the Oscars is Oct 1.

This is the first time a film by the 30-year-old director has been selected for Oscar consideration.

He told Life!: 'It's an honour that my work has been recognised here and to have Singaporeans embrace a getai film. I shall let 881 find its destiny at the Oscars if it's meant to, if not, it's still great for me.'

The Hokkien-Mandarin musical is about the trials and tribulations of two aspiring getai performers.

The other three films submitted to the SFC for consideration were Jack Neo's body-swopping comedy Just Follow Law, Wee Li Lin's retail therapy drama Gone Shopping and Nicholas Chee's Becoming Royston, about a young aspiring film-maker.

SFC chairman Jennie Chua said that 881 was the unanimous choice by the SFC board members.

'The film presents a part of the rich and colourful street culture of Singapore which is hardly seen by the world and provides a window to showcase our unique heritage to the international audience,' she said.

The 14-member board includes Cathay Organisation Holdings executive director Choo Meileen, Eng Wah Organisation managing director Goh Min Yen and Golden Village managing director Kenneth Tan.

881 will be up against other high-profile Asian entries which have been recently announced.

Taiwan is represented by Lee Ang's erotic espionage thriller Lust, Caution, which won the Golden Lion at the recent Venice Film Festival, and South Korea by Lee Chang Dong's Secret Sunshine, about a widow who returns to the small town where her husband was born. The latter premiered at the Cannes film festival in May.

In February this year, German film The Lives Of Others, about life under surveillance in the former East Germany, won the best foreign film accolade at the Oscars.

Nominations for the 80th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be announced on Jan 22 next year. The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 24.

Mr Man Shu Sum, the Media Development Authority's broadcast and film development director and SFC director, said: '881 is a showcase of local culture not just for overseas audiences but also for the younger generation here.'

The film has also eclipsed Neo's Just Follow Law as the top-grossing local film of this year thus far. It has rung up over $3.2 million at the box office to Law's $2.8 million.

bchan@sph.com.sg